As the season of annual meetings and finger foods winds down, we can reflect on the achievements and impact that each organization, agency and institution has had in improving lives in our Greater New Haven Community. We have come to expect accountability and measurable results for our charitable dollars; we want to know how they are leveraged; we want to feel good about ourselves! We never felt better about ourselves and the future than we did on Thursday night, at the Bank of America Community Room, at the year-end festivities of The Youth Philanthropy Project, a United Way initiative.
The 15 members of YPP are a group of diverse Greater New Haven area teens from public, private and parochial schools and rural and urban areas, who dedicate their time and talent, in bimonthly meetings, to develop civil and social awareness. They examine the work of programs that serve young people, establish consensus for their priorities, raise funds, publish a request for proposals and award grants to those they deem most worthy of their investment. They learn about philanthropy while gaining valuable financial skills and important life lessons; they learn to appreciate their differences.
They are supported by the staff and United Way Board of Directors, especially Sally Anastos, the young and vibrant professional with whom they have almost daily contact and Randy Whitcomb of the development staff. Each of the grant recipients regards the honor almost more than the monetary significance. The 2006 awards were bestowed on AIDS Project New Haven for “Teaching AIDS Prevention Services” (TAPS), The “Common Ground Youth Crew” of the New Haven Ecology Project, Inc. and The “Teen Job Club” of the West Haven Community House Association (pictured).
The keynote speaker was Elizabeth “Lizzie” White (pictured), a Fordham University student who has just completed her freshman year. The New Haven resident was among the 100 young people from all over the country who were selected to participate in STORM CORPS, MTV and United Way’s first-ever Alternative Spring Break program. The volunteers ages 18 – 24 spent the week of March 11 – 18 helping rebuild lives and communities in Biloxi, Mississippi, and Foley, Alabama. In addition to helping individual residents clean and rebuild, the projects undertaken by the volunteers assisted the Southern Mississippi AIDS Task Force office, the Deaf Center and the Moore Community House, where 5 buildings that housed day care facilities were destroyed.
MTV and United Way partnered to develop STORM CORPS in an effort to mobilize a generation of youth leaders to address critical issues in communities across the country. STORM CORPS is designed to live on beyond the initial week of rebuilding. Upon returning home, participants are encouraged to utilize the leadership skills gained during STORM CORPS and share their experiences in the Gulf Coast with their communities. Lizzie met and exceeded the goals of the program, and, according to her, changed her own perspective on life as well.
The YPP members for 2005 – 2006 were Alejandra Andrews, Deja Badger, Brittny Barnes, Madeline Christensen, Ginger Cline, Brian Fitzgibbons, Eric Greene, Ashley Lawhem. Han “Steve” Li, Aviva Raucher, Ellecia Sims, Alan Thorne, Carolyn Thorne, Gabriel Velazquez and Dannieka Wiggins. Schools represented were Hopkins, Co-Op, Mercy, Hamden High, Masuk High, Hillhouse, Amtiy, Notre Dame, and Career.
With renewed hope for the future and confidence in these young leaders, this annual event has to be the best of all — ¬¶ — ¬¶ — ¬¶ALL FOR THE GREATER GOOD!!